PUPILS at a Durham school are celebrating after winning cash in a car dealer's environmental awards.

Framwellgate School has been given £300 from Mill Volvo's Practical Environmental Projects scheme.

The money will be used by the Movement Schools Group, which is made up of special education needs pupils and their friends, to develop a millennium bog garden in the school grounds.

The youngsters plan to buy bulbs and plants with the award and build a pathway through the garden for visitors.

As well as improving the environment, the youngsters are improving their organisational skills and teamwork through the project. The awards are part of a national challenge by Mill Volvo offering schools and groups up to £20,000 for innovative projects.

The school's special needs co-ordinator Vera Coult said: "This is a great opportunity for the children to help the environment and also build personal skills that will stay with them for a long time.

"We were very pleased and excited when we heard we had been awarded the grant."